Battery module and battery monitoring unit mounting structure

Abstract

A pair of end plates is a pair of members provided at both ends of a battery cell assembly in an array direction to clamp the battery cell assembly from both sides in the array direction. The pair of end plates has a plate upper surface and a recess. The plate upper surface is positioned on the same side as that of an electrode mounting surface. The recess is recessed from the plate upper surface and accommodates at least part of a coupling connector. With this configuration, a battery module and a battery monitoring unit mounting structure can prevent the battery module from increasing in size.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery module comprising:
 a battery cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells each including an electrode terminal, disposed side by side in an array direction, and electrically connected to one another, the battery cell assembly having an electrode mounting surface provided with the electrode terminal; 
 a battery monitoring unit including a coupling connector capable of being connected to a mating connector of an external device, mounted on the electrode mounting surface, and configured to output a battery state of the battery cells to the external device via the coupling connector; and 
 a pair of end plates provided at both ends of the battery cell assembly in the array direction to clamp the battery cell assembly from both sides in the array direction, wherein 
 the pair of end plates has a plate upper surface positioned on the same side as the side of the electrode mounting surface and a recess recessed from the plate upper surface to accommodate at least part of the coupling connector, 
 the coupling connector includes a terminal accommodating part having an opening, the opening is exposed to the outside such that the mating connector can be attached to and detached from the coupling connector along the array direction, and 
 an end of the opening is located at a position on the battery cell assembly side with respect to an end side in the array direction of the pair of end plates, or is made flush with the end side in the array direction of the pair of end plates. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the battery monitoring unit includes a substrate provided with an electronic circuit, and 
 the coupling connector is positioned between a bottom of the recess and the substrate and provided to the substrate such that the mating connector is capable of being attached to and detached from the coupling connector along the array direction. 
 
     
     
       3. The battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the battery monitoring unit includes a substrate provided with an electronic circuit, and 
 the coupling connector is positioned at an end of the substrate in the array direction and provided to the substrate such that the mating connector is capable of being attached to and detached from the coupling connector along the array direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the recess accommodates an entire of the coupling connector. 
 
     
     
       5. The battery module according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the recess accommodates an entire of the coupling connector. 
 
     
     
       6. The battery module according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the recess accommodates an entire of the coupling connector. 
 
     
     
       7. The battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the battery monitoring unit includes a substrate on which an electronic circuit is formed, and a connector coupling wire connecting the substrate and the coupling connector, and 
 the recess accommodates a part of the connector coupling wire. 
 
     
     
       8. The battery module according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the battery monitoring unit includes a substrate on which an electronic circuit is formed, and a connector coupling wire connecting the substrate and the coupling connector, and 
 the recess accommodates a part of the connector coupling wire. 
 
     
     
       9. The battery module according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the battery monitoring unit includes a substrate on which an electronic circuit is formed, and a connector coupling wire connecting the substrate and the coupling connector, and 
 the recess accommodates a part of the connector coupling wire. 
 
     
     
       10. The battery module according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the battery monitoring unit includes a substrate on which an electronic circuit is formed, and a connector coupling wire connecting the substrate and the coupling connector, and 
 the recess accommodates a part of the connector coupling wire. 
 
     
     
       11. A battery monitoring unit mounting structure comprising:
 a pair of end plates provided at both ends of a battery cell assembly in an array direction to clamp the battery cell assembly from both sides in the array direction, the battery cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells each including an electrode terminal, disposed side by side in the array direction, and electrically connected to one another, the battery cell assembly having an electrode mounting surface provided with the electrode terminal, wherein 
 the pair of end plates has:
 a plate upper surface positioned on the same side as the side of the electrode mounting surface; and 
 a recess recessed from the plate upper surface to accommodate at least part of a coupling connector of a battery monitoring unit including the coupling connector capable of being connected to a mating connector of an external device, mounted on the electrode mounting surface, and configured to output a battery state of the battery cells to the external device via the coupling connector, 
 
 the coupling connector includes a terminal accommodating part having an opening, the opening is exposed to the outside such that the mating connector can be attached to and detached from the coupling connector along the array direction, and 
 an end of the opening is located at a position on the battery cell assembly side with respect to an end side in the array direction of the pair of end plates, or is made flush with the end side in the array direction of the pair of end plates.